Latest from Poldark

Poldark confirms three major new castings, including Demelza’s brothers

Poldark series 3 has confirmed the casting of Demelza Poldark’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) brothers- and Aidan Turner may have competition. Harry Richardson and Tom York are confirmed to be portraying… read more

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Poldark confirms three major new castings, including Demelza’s brothers

Poldark series 3 has confirmed the casting of Demelza Poldark’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) brothers- and Aidan Turner may have competition.

Harry Richardson and Tom York are confirmed to be portraying Drake and Sam Carne in the third series of the hit period drama, which is currently filming. The popular drama is currently broadcasting its second series on Sunday nights.

Richardson is best known for his role as Frank Gresham, the heir to the struggling Gresham family on the ITV drama Doctor Thorne.

Meanwhile, York has appeared in one-episode stints of Agatha Raisin, Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders, but is best known for portraying the lead role of Hero in short-lived fantasy series Olympus on Spike.

Drake Carne is described as a “free spirit” with a lot of similarities to his feisty sister Demelza, while Sam is a more down-to-earth sort who wants to live simply and preach his methodist beliefs.

Ellise Chappell has also been confirmed for a role in the third series, playing Elizabeth’s cousin Morwenna. Morwenna is set to work as George Warleggan’s governess, but her attentions are soon driven far from work.

Poldark writer Debbie Horsfield said: “We’re thrilled to be kicking off series three with a fantastic array of new characters and a story which scales new heights of conflict, feuding, passion and drama.

“Ross is older but not necessary wiser, and his recklessness sometimes costs him, and his loved ones, dear. We’re in for a rollercoaster ride where the stakes have never been higher.”

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Victoria beats Poldark in Sunday evening ratings battle

The results of last night’s ratings battle have arrived… and it’s a surprising win for ITV’s Victoria.

Onlookers have speculated on whether Victoria (ITV, 9pm, Sundays) or Poldark (BBC One, 9pm, Sundays) would attract the most viewers ever since Victoria‘s broadcast was announced to clash with the Aidan Turner-fronted period drama.

The final result was extremely close. 5.3 million tuned in to watch Jenna Coleman’s Queen Victoria be turned down by first love Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell), while 5.1 million watched the aftermath of Ross Poldark’s arrest on BBC One instead.

In August, Poldark star Eleanor Tomlinson, who plays Demelza in the popular series, admitted she was “worried” about the competition. Speaking at an advance screening of the second series premiere she said: “I’m worried by it – I’m fiercely competitive!”

Meanwhile Aidan Turner had no such concerns. He said: “It makes a good story in the papers that we’re pitched against each other – but it really doesn’t feel like that at all.

“You can watch Victoria live and then catch us on iPlayer – or vice versa. It’s just a different way of doing it now. I don’t think [scheduling] means what it used to mean a few years ago.

“People who want to watch your show will watch your show – that’s kind of the way it is these days.”

Victoria airs on ITV at 9pm on Sundays, while Poldark airs on BBC One on Sundays.

Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson teases “rollercoaster” series 2

Demelza Poldark actress Eleanor Tomlinson has teased a “rollercoaster” second series for Poldark. The last series of the drama ended with Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) being wrongly arrested for wrecking and murder, shortly after his and Demelza’s daughter Julia died from putrid throat.

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Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson teases “rollercoaster” series 2

Demelza Poldark actress Eleanor Tomlinson has teased a “rollercoaster” second series for Poldark.

Speaking on This Morning ahead of the series’ return this Sunday, Tomlinson said: “Season two picks up where season one finished. We’re dealing with a loss of a child, Ross is going to be tried – who knows if he’s going to get off.

“It’s very tense, very upsetting, it’s a rollercoaster!”

The last series of the drama ended with Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) being wrongly arrested for wrecking and murder, shortly after his and Demelza’s daughter Julia died from putrid throat.

What we’re curious about however is how the love triangle between Ross, Demelza and Ross’ former fiancée Elizabeth is going to proceed.

Tomlinson said “[Ross and Demelza’s] relationship is growing but there’s still turmoil to come.”

“Elizabeth stirring up trouble. I think that’s what people love about Ross and Demelza – they have a very realistic relationship.”

The second series of Poldark will adapt the story from Winston Graham’s third and fourth novels in the Poldark series, Jeremy Poldark and Warleggan.

It is hoped the series can achieve the same popularity it achieved during its first series in March 2015, when it helped BBC One achieve its highest ratings share for the first quarter of the year in 10 years.

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Fans freak out after Aidan Turner suggests Ross Poldark might die this series

Poldark fans around the country nearly had heart attacks this morning after Aidan Turner suggested Ross Poldark might die this series.

Speaking to Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 1, Turner was talking innocently about how the popular BBC One series films out of sequence. Unfortunately, he didn’t choose his words carefully enough, joking: “You’re dying tomorrow and on Wednesday you’re getting married. It’s a bit odd, but you get used to it.”

The sentence provoked uproar from listening fans, who mistook Turner’s words to mean he had filmed Poldark’s death scenes.

Grimshaw was forced to ask Turner to clarify his statement, after receiving an outpouring of messages from devastated listeners.

Eleanor Tomlinson, who was also on the BBC Radio 1 show with her co-star, said: “I knew that would happen when it came out of your mouth.”

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WATCH: Aidan Turner gets intense in first trailer for Poldark season 2

Aidan Turner is back and more intense than ever in the first trailer for Poldark season 2.

“I fought for our liberty; for our hopes; for our dreams; and I’ll keep on fighting, whatever the cost”, pledges the highland hero, over images of his two lady loves Elizabeth and Demelza.

Before season 2 has even hit our screens, Poldark is confirmed to continue with a third instalment, which will pick up four years after the second one (which is said to take place in 1970). Season 3 already has a short synopsis, which reveals:

“1794: Ross must traverse new family, new loves and new battles, as the French revolution casts a shadow over life in Cornwall.”

“Series two promises to take the audience on another fantastic rollercoaster ride and we’re thrilled to know that the story won’t end there. It’s a testament to Debbie [Horsfield, showrunner]’s brilliant storytelling and the passion of the Mammoth [production company] team that Poldark will be returning for a third series, with yet more twists and turns for these much-loved characters.”

More on James Bond

Poldark’s Aidan Turner becomes bookies’ favourite for Bond

After refusing to answer the press about whether he’d been meeting with James Bond producers earlier this year, Poldark heartthrob Aidan Turner is now the frontrunner in the race to replace Daniel Craig as 007.

“It’s just rumours. I don’t know anything about it”, Turner told the panel at the BAFTA TV Awards in May, back before Tom Hiddleston went and more or less disqualified himself from the running, and left the bets a lot more open.

Overtaking War and Peace actor James Norton, who held the top odds this time last month, Turner is now at 6/4 to be Bond, while Norton is bumped down to second favourite, with odds of 7/2.

A spokesperson for William Hill told The Sun: “We have seen a further run of bets for Mr Turner, including one customer looking to place a cool £1000. He has to be a contender”.

More on Awards

In news that surprised absolutely no one, BBC One drama Poldark was crowned with the Radio Times Audience Award at the House of Fraser BAFTA TV Awards last night (May 8th 2016). Winning in the only category on the list that had been voted for by members of the public, the show trumped other big hitters Doctor Foster, Humans, The Great British Bake Off, Making a Murderer, and Peter Kay’s Car Share. We had the pleasure of speaking with the victorious cast and crew straight after their win. Here’s what Aidan Turner and co. had to say about the show, James Bond, and male objectification.

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Aidan, did you have any doubts or reservations when you were offered the role?

Aidan Turner: “Well it’s rare that I get offered anything, but when it came in I thought ‘Yeah!’. It’s one of those ones you read and think ‘I just can’t turn this down, there’s too much in it for me’. It was brilliant. Incredible adaptation by Debbie Horsfield who’s standing behind me here, and Winston Graham gave us incredible novels to work on, and it’s really a talented, great cast. It was a no-brainer.”

Does it surprise you how much of a phenomenon it’s become with the fans?

AT: “Yeah, well I don’t think any of us expected it to be quite the success that it is. You never know what an audience is gonna attach themselves to, but yeah, it’s a huge surprise and a great honour that we’ve had that kind of support.”

What can you tell us about season two?

AT: “I can’t tell you anything! I’d get fired within seconds!”

Is there any truth to the rumours that you got flown out to L.A. for meetings about James Bond?

Okay, moving on. Your BAFTA award was voted for by the audience. How much of that do you think was down to you being shirtless in a field?

AT: “I hope not a great deal!”

Executive producer Karen Thrussell: “I think Aidan was shirtless for about one minute out of eight hours of television, so hopefully people tuned in for more than that. Although it was a very good scene…”

One for Eleanor and Heida; what’s it like being on a show where the man is objectified, rather than the women?

Heida Reed: “I think nobody should be objectified and that everyone should be equal, so I don’t think it’s men’s turn to be objectified just because women are fighting stronger for their place at the moment. Hopefully just equality across the board!”

Eleanor Tomlinson: “I second that. Equality and strong female roles are taking over, I think. You should watch this space.”

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NTAs SPECIAL: Interview with Poldark’s Aidan Turner

Arguably the name that everyone – be they male or female – was most excited about at last night’s National Television Awards was that of Poldark‘s Aidan Turner. It came as no surprise that Turner’s shirtless scything won him the first ever ‘TV moment of the year’ award at the ceremony, and the reception to meet him as he came off stage and into the backstage area was nothing short of extraordinary. This is what Turner had to tell us during his limited conversation with the press:

How have you found the massive reaction to Poldark?

AT: I don’t know, I haven’t really noticed. When you’re working, you’re working. We’ve been doing six-day weeks all the time, and you just kind of get caught up in that. Walking down the street sometimes I get stopped.

Do you feel under pressure to maintain the physique you’ve become so famous for amongst the female public?

AT: There’s an element of that, but I think I’ve finished all the slightly naked scenes I might be doing. I think they might all be done by this stage.

Do you feel objectified at any point?

AT: Not a bit. Never did.

How often to female fans try to get you on a date?

AT: It doesn’t happen very often! Which is not what I expected at all!

What’s the mood been like on set after the success of the first series?

AT: It’s always nice to go back to the show – I did it with Being Human where I’ve gone back in after a huge success and started on season two, and it’s always quite brilliant. It’s great.

Do you think there’s a likelihood of further seasons at this stage?

AT: I hope so, yeah, it would be nice, but we need to keep the standard high. If the standard keeps the way it is, we keep doing it. If it drops, we’re off, like everything else.

Can you tell us what you might be doing next?

AT: I don’t know! I’m going to travel for a bit. I’ve been workingback to back on jobs for years now, but yeah, I don’t know.

You mentioned Being Human, which aired on BBC Three. What do you think about the channel’s upcoming move to online?

AT: I didn’t know that… I seem to be out of the loop for everything, I had no idea. That’s quite sad. Danny Cohen is fantastic and he was pioneering that network for a long time, and I hope it does well. It’s a great network.

How has your family reacted to your rise to fame?

AT: Mum’s proud! She’s dead proud, she’s proud of everything I do. I’ve never really asked her though, like ‘what do you think of this?’. She’s just proud of her boy, you know.

Where are you going to keep the trophy?

AT: I don’t know, where’s a good place for a trophy? Is it a bathroom job? Yeah, that says it all, doesn’t it?!